Trestle



Oct. 1 4, 1930. M. W.'PITNER 1,773,566

TRESTLE Filed Feb. 13', 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. W. PITNER Oct. 14, 1930.

TRESTLE Filed Feb. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W202 UZDZZZW 7% Maw/7% Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFricE MARION W. PI' INER 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TRAV-LER MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS TRES'ILE Application filed February 13, 1928.

My invention relates to trestles and more particularly to trestles of the foldable or knoclodown type wherein the legs may be readily folded from their operative position into a position substantially parallel to the beam so that they will make a compact easily transported structure.

It is a purpose of this invention to provide a trestle which will be economical to make and light in weight and which will at the same time be extremely rigid in its operative position.

It is also an object of this invention to pro* vide a novel means for connecting the legs to the beam which at the same time greatly reinforces the connection as well as the rigidity of the beam.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a trestle in which the foldable legs can be firmly held in operative position without the use of brace members extending below the beam or any inner-connecting brace between the several legs.

More particularly it is an object of this in- 7 vention to provide means for connecting the foldabie legs to an inverted U-shaped beam whereby tl e legs when extended in operative position do not support the weight of the beam on the pivoting members but instead P directly contact at their end with a portion of the beam so as to relieve the pivot members of the weight placed on the beam.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide foldable legs for a beam of the character just mentioned, which legs must be pulled downwardly away from the beam before they can be folded into knock-down position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear asthe description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not intend 4 to limit myself to the exact details shown and described, but that I intend to avail myself of all such modifications as would occur to one skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings Serial No. 254,050.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the trestle in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 38 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to section shown in Fig. 2 but showing a modified construction; and

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3 along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detailto the drawings, the trestle comprises a beam 10 which is a piece of sheet steel bent to provide a top portion 11 and two divergent sides 12 and 13 depending therefrom. Adjacent the opposite ends of this beam are provided a pair of braces which consist of the end portion 14 and the inwardly bent portion 15 and 16 adapted to fit within and snugly contact with the divergent sides 12 and 13 of the beam 10. The reinforcing braces are secured to the divergent ides of the beam by a plurality of rivets 17, 18, 19 and 20 each of which rivets are provided with a smaller shank portion 21 and. an enlarged portion 22 which forms a shoulder adjacent the shank portion 21 to permit riveting of the brace to the divergent side of the beam. The rivets, of course, are provided with heads at the opposite ends in the usual manner.

The legs 23, 2 1-, 25 and 26 are secured to the beam by means of the rivets 1'7, 18, 19 and 20, these legs as shown being composed of channel beams of sheet steel and tapering toward the bottom thereof.

Each of the legs as shown is provided with anelongated opening adjacent the top to receive the enlarged portion in one of the rivets 18 or 19, while farther down each of the legs is provided with a key slot having the enlarged upper portion 29 slightly larger than the head of the rivet which fits therein and the smaller lower portion 30 which is just a sufficient size to receive the enlarged portion 22 of the rivet. Thus when the leg is in the solid line position shown in Fig. 3, the

. upper end 31 thereof is adapted to brace directly against the lower surface of the top of the beam so that the load placedon the beam is not carried directly by the rivets but 1nstead is communicated directly from the beam to the leg on the top thereof.

Now when it is desired to fold the leg, it is pulled downwardly with respect to the beam so that the rivets move into the upper portions oi the slots 28 and 29 and then to release the leg so that it ma be folded the lower portion thereoi is drawn inwardly away irozn the beam so that the head of the rivet is passed th 'ough the openin E29 and after that the leg may swing around the upper rivet a pivot into dotted line position shown in hi 3. bus, it necessary in ring the legs irom folded position to operatii'; position to swin them about the upper rivet s a pivot until they are fully extended an: then to shove them upwardly until the top of the leg engages with the under surtace ot' the beam. The only way then that a loaded trestle could tall down without brealrin or collapsing would be for the beam and load to rise without the and then for the legs to be flexed inwardly to (been- 4 hem from the edge of the lower rivet. would be practically impossible in the t the trestle and therefore there is no le r o the legs of this trestle folding up WJilQ it s in use.

foince there are no struts or ties below the .eam, the construction at the junction 01 the legs with the beam must be very strong for when the trestle is standing on a smooth floor and su n'iorting a heavy load, the lower ends of the legs tend to spread farther apart. This tends to spread the beam and cause the lower portions of the divergent sides 12 and 13 to spread farther apart. [it the same time the pull inwardly at the top of the legs on the upper rivets tends to compress and collapse the be; in at the top. These two tendencies are obviously about equal and owing, to the length of the legs and short distance between the top of the beam and the lower edges of the divergent sides, the are quite great. The reinforced braces have a tendency to prevent the spreading artion referred to above since the ent side portions 15 and 16 are directly connected to the wen l4- and the strains thereon due to the spreading of the legs tend, in a measure, to counteract each other, for instance, the wing); l5 the brace while the bottom is being pressed outwardly by the leg, the top being; pulled inwardly and one action tends to offset the other. The portions and l5 of the braces extend somewhat beyond the legs shown in l to further reint'orce the beam at this point. Thus the braces contribute greatly to the stiffness of the sides and since the strength of the beam depends largely upon the sices being held in their normal plane, the braces are of considerable advantage in strengthening the beam at the point of greater stress.

leterrinn' now to Figs. 5 and 6. there is illustrated a slight modification of the structure which is designed to further strengthen the connection between the legs and the b aim and to take the load oil the securing rivets. As shown in 5, the end brace has the usual web portion 14 but at the top of this web there is an inwardly and downwardly bent lip which as shown in Fig. (3, is curved back toward the main body portion of the web at Again the wings 15 and 16' are provided at their tops with the rebent portions 3? and 38 which book down over the tops of the legs as shown cl arly in Fig. 5.

The outer channel 39 of each leg is provided with a curved portion 40 adapted to hook under the re-hent portion 3h 01" the web Ll. when the lee. is in the up vard position so as to boil "(he leg against sliding dowmvard after it is placed in operative position. As shown in Fig. 6, the inner channel ll of the cut away as at 42 so that wh n the leg is pulled downwardly, it is tree to told in the same manner as in the approved structure.

The portions 337 and 38 on the wings oi the brace by engaging the tops of the legs tend to prevent the tops of the legs from swinging inwardly away from the brace and thus take the load oil of the upper rivets to prevent their being broken. Thus when tl e trestle is set up in OPQIiLJlVO position practically the entire strain placed thereon by a load is communicated from the beam directly through he 'ace members tothe legs and not through he rivets. This makes it unnecessary to use a very heavy rivet and eliminates one of the weakest points o'l structures of this character, while. at the same time, the flexibility and collapsibility oi the trestle is equally as good in types not using this form of b ace.

From the above description it is thought tha the construction and advantages of t1. dev will be clear those skilled in th art and having; thus described my invention, whet I claim and desire to secure by Letters l atent oi the Unite: States is:

1. lo a device of the character (ilescribed, a support on which articles may be supported.

' l support having flanges depending theresupportiiur legs attached to said flanges aving a limited sliding movement away said support and means normally hold me; sair lea s extended, but permitting said to told when they are slid away from said support.

In a device of the character descrilfied, a support on which articles may be supported, said support havingflanges depending there from,v killlTpOltlllg legs attached. to said flanges and having'a limited sliding movement away fr ,in said support, and inter-engaging means id flangesand said legs normally hold- .a'id legs extended, but permitting said ck ...r

to'iold when they are slid away from saic mpport.

3. The combination with; a beam having a Sil I la" top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions.

4.. The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith,

said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting le 's attached to said reinforced portions, said being foldable between said depending sides.

The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached. to said reinforced port-ions, said legs having a limited sliding movement vertically relative to said beam.

6. The combination with a beam having a top and depending downwardly divergent sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular downwardly divergent side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to the adjacent faces of said reinforced portions.

7. The combination with a beam having a top and depending downwardly divergent sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular downwardly divergent side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portion of said sides, and supporting legs attached to the acent faces of said reinforced portions, and supporting said beam directly on their upper ends.

8. In a device of the character described, a support on which articles may be supported, said support having flanges depending therefrom, supporting legs, and means connecting said legs and flanges whereby said legs may be moved from supporting position downwardly away from said support and then folded inwardly alongside said flanges, said legs when in supporting position receiving the weight of said srpport directly on their upper ends.

9. The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions,

. ends.

V 10. The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces. each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions, the portions of said braces having projectg portions at the top thereof bent to extend downwardly between said side portions and provide recesses receiving the upper ends of said legs.

11. The combination with a beam having a top and depending downwardly divergent sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular downwardly divergentside portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to the adjacent faces of said reinforced portions, said braces having means at the top thereof forming recesses receiving the upper ends of said legs whereby the weight of the device is supported on the upper ends of said legs.

12. The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions, the end portions of said braces having downturned projections at the top thereof providing recesses into which portions of said legs extend.

13. The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached .to said reinforced portions, the end portions of said braces having downturned projections at the top thereof providing recesses into which portions of said legs extend and cooperating means on said downturned portions and said leg portions, yieldably holding said legs against downward movement relative to said beam.

is; The combination with a beam having a top and depending sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portlons integral therewith,

said side portions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions, said legs having a limited sliding movement vertically relative to said beam, the end portions of said braces having downtnrned projections at the top thereof providing recesses into which portions of said legs extend.

15. The combination with a beam having a top and depending; sides, of a pair of spaced braces each comprising an end portion and two angular side portions integral therewith, said side poi ions being fastened to said sides whereby said braces connect and reinforce certain portions of said sides, and supporting legs attached to said reinforced portions, aid legs having a limited sliding movement Vertically relative to said beam, the end portions of said braces having downtnrned projections at the top thereof providing recesses into which portions of said legs extend and cooperating means on said downtnrned portions and said le nortions, yicldably holding '3 1. said against downward movement rela* tive to said beam.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day of January, A. D. 1928.

MARION W. PITNEP. 

